Words cannot capture the amazingness that was the three weeks I spent in Georgia over the holidays. December 7th - 29th were some of the best days spent in the past six months. Living abroad makes the time with friends and family even MORE precious. Once I got to Marietta, the first week was just spent with family, sending out Christmas cards, and doing some crazy Christmas shopping. I also got to see a lot of my close pals from high school and college. I spent one day with each set of my grandparents and there were a lot of hugs and tears. I got to share my wedding album and wedding video with all of them. Time is so precious and I cannot be thankful enough for those moments.
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| christmas tree by night |
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| my three best gals from high school...the fab four |
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| christmas tree by day |
Week Two was spent celebrating Mackie's bachelor graduation day from Georgia State. Kail graduated with his Master's at the same time which was an awesome experience. We went out to eat at Uncle Julio's afterward with his family and ours. Mackie graduated with high honors and got on the big screen thanking mom & dad for supporting her always. It was a great experience and I am very thankful I was there for it. We are all so proud of her. She's headed to graduate school starting next week. My best friend from Houston, Michelle, came into town to visit on that Friday for the night. It was so great seeing her: we hadn't seen each other since the wedding. I showed her around Marietta and we just hung out. Nick flew in on Saturday and on Sunday we headed up to Knoxville to visit with Emily (Nick's sister) and her husband and their girls. They're growing up SO fast and we value every second we can spend with our nieces. Nick had spent HOURSSSS looking for dolls with traditional German dresses on them to give to the girls. Amelia and Laura took those dolls everywhere with them those two days and I was so proud of Nick for putting so much thought and effort into the gift. It made me smile. On Sunday night, Emily got a babysitter and the four of us went out for dinner and drinks. I'm so thankful for an amazing sister-in-law and glad we can share moments like these.
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| mackie on the big screen! |
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| mack waving at us |
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| very cool... they put all the names on the ribbon screen at the Georgia Dome |
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| the graduate! |
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| the graduates! |
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| my pupssss |
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| showing michelle around the marietta square |
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| we liked this interstate sign heading up to knoxville..star wars is all the rage |
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| nick helping his nieces open gifts |
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| the german dolls! |
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| me, emily & nick out in knoxville |
Week 3 was Christmas time. My parents took Kail, Mackie, Nick and I out to eat at Ruth Chris for our "fancy Christmas dinner" that we do every year. Nick's parents joined us this year and we had a blast. Afterward, we made gingerbread houses like we do every year as well. On Christmas Eve, Nick and I celebrated with his parents. We went to church and had an amazing Christmas lunch at their house that Nick prepared. Christmas morning was spent with my parents and Mackie and I made brunch for everyone. We then opened presents and I think everyone got what they wanted :) Nick and I went with my parents to see both sets of my grandparents in Rome which was also quite the blessing. I cherish every moment I have with those four. Nick headed out the day after Christmas and I spent a few more days at home. Home has become even more precious to me over the past few years and definitely since I moved abroad. Looking forward to the next time I get to head back (or when my family comes to visit me!!)
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| my people at dinner at Ruth Chris |
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| the gingerbread houses! |
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| kail, mackie, me, nick |
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| my mother-in-law and me! |
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| my husband and i |
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| christmas brunch at our house with homemade cinnamon roles and quiches and cheesy grits! |
